'Underweight' Pacquiao can afford to skip final workout, eat to his heart's content

LAS VEGAS – Gone are the days when Manny Pacquiao would struggle to make weight for a fight.

On Thursday (Friday, Manila time), Pacquiao found no need to train one final time, two days before he faces Timothy Bradley in a 12-round welterweight match.

The 37-year-old Filipino cancelled at the last minute a scheduled light workout at the Top Rank gym as his team decided it was no longer necessary, with Pacquiao way below the 147-lb. limit a day before the official weigh-in.

Trainer Freddie Roach initially let Pacquiao take the day off after the round table trainers’ interview held in the morning at the MGM Grand, only to be told that the boxing legend was already heading off to the gym to sweat it out.

But after spending some time with his team inside the dressing room, Pacquiao's training was eventually called off, to the surprise of fans and members of the media waiting for him inside the gym.

Buboy Fernandez, another Pacquiao assistant trainer and longtime friend, said he hasn’t seen what the weight of the boxing superstar was when he weighed in for the day.

But judging from his look, Fernandez said, ‘nasa 141 or 142 yan.’

Conditioning coach Justine Fortune expects Pacquiao to tip in at 145 during Friday’s weigh-in – or even lower. On fight night, he said they’re looking to have the Pacman at 147 – or 148 max – when he climbs the ring against Bradley.

“His metabolism is so fast,” Fortune said.

From the gym, Pacquiao went back to his suit at the Mandalay Bay Delano and partook a light merienda just before holding a daily prayer meeting.

Songs of praise, preaching, and sharing echoed inside the packed room bursting with family members, friends, a sprinkling of celebrities, and fans, who joined Pacquiao in the service that lasted for more than an hour.